October 16, 2007

Buon giorno. I know some of you have attended gal pal Courtney Cochran’s Hip Tastes parties around town, and now her new book, Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine, just came out—congrats girl! (Some of you San Francisco magazine readers might have noted my Night Watch piece on her parties in this month’s issue!) In honor of the book release, I will be giving away copies of her book to five lucky tablehopper readers—good odds, no? All you need to do is forward the tablehopper newsletter to four friends, and just cc luckyme [at] tablehopper [dot] com. (I won’t use anyone’s emails for anything—this is just to track how many folks you forwarded it to!). Deadline to enter is midnight on Sunday, October 21. I’ll notify the winner early next week! If you don’t win, remember you can pick up a copy with a 20% discount at Green Apple Books for two weeks following this mention—simply use the code “tablehopper” at checkout (either at the store or online) for your discount.

Since we’re talkin’ about how to pack on a buzz, there is always one when the Michelin Red Guide comes out, and when San Francisco’s second edition is released next week should be no exception. I’ll be on a panel with Michelin Director Jean-Luc Naret next Wednesday evening at the Ferry Building to talk all about it—check out the details in the socialite. No word if Bibendum, the Michelin Man, will be joining me for dinner afterwards. I was thinking we could go for a spin around town, ha ha.

Lastly, the most mysterious and charming gift ended up in my mailbox yesterday, but there was no return address or note! Obviously it’s someone who knows me (and the happenings of my life the past month) quite well: pink bubbly and all kinds of pink champers products from Jacqua. Can the sweetie please come forward? So thoughtful, you.